Ceiling or lining for a ceiling, wall and the like building structure



0d. 1965 G. c. VERMEULEN ETAL 3,209,505

CEILING 0R LINING FOR A CEILING WALL AND THE LIKE BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed June 29, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l Gear g2 A Oct. 5, 1965 G. c. VERMEULEN ETAL 3,209,505

CEILING OR LINING FOR A CEILING WALL AND THE LIKE BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed June 29, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F|G.3 FIG.4

INVENTORS Gerard 15 f. /armau/en GQO/gfi /7- G. Lips BYHM 10%;; Maw/WAG ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,209,505 CEILING 0R LINING FOR A CEILING, WALL AND THE LIKE BUILDING STRUCTURE Gerardus C. Vermeulen, Rotterdam, and George A. G. Lips, Voorburg, Netherlands, assignors to Hunter Douglas Holland, Rotterdam, Netherlands, a corporation of the Netherlands Filed June 29, 1962, Ser. No. 206,390 Claims priority, application Netherlands, June 7, 1962, 279,460 3 Claims. (Cl. 52-489) This invention relates to a wall, ceiling or suchlike construction or to a lining for such a wall, ceiling or suchlike construction respectively and also relates to a method for the manufacture of such a wall, ceiling or suchlike construction or of a lining for such a wall, ceiling of suchlike construction respectively.

When manufacturing the walls, ceilings or suchlike constructions known so far, as well as linings for such walls, ceilings or suchlike constructions, which consist of lamellae or panels secured on stringers provided with projecting parts fixedly connected thereto, on which parts said lamellate or panels are clampingly mounted, one usually meets with the fact that the width of the wall or the ceiling is no multiple of the width of the lamellae or panels and of the distance between said lamellae or panels. This entails the disadvantage that the wall or the panel must be provided with rims or strips covering the open edge portions. Another difliculty consists in that often ceilings or walls are not accurately rectangular so that at one end of the wall or the ceiling there is a smaller gap that at the other end thereof. Also when utilizing edge strips this remains visible, as said edge strips do not extend parallel to the lamellae or panels.

These disadvantages are avoided by utilizing the wall, ceiling or suchlike construction or the lining for such a wall, ceiling or suchlike construction respectively in that at least part of the stringers has a channel-like cross-section of which the end edges are pointing towards each other, said end edges supporting holding members comprising projections on which the lamellae, panels or similar strip-like elements are clampingly mounted.

On account of the fact that the carrier members have been manufactured separately from the stringers and are supported by the edges of said stringers, they can be arranged uniformly distributed over the entire length of the stringers. If the two sides of the wall, ceiling or suchlike surface do not extend parallel to each other, all of the intervening spaces or part of them between the lamellae or similar strip-like parts may taper which does not attract attention. It is obvious that it is not necessary to construct the entire ceiling or suchlike surface in this way, but that also part thereof, in particular if ceilings or walls of great width are involved, may be constructed in the known manner with stringers having projections fixedly secured thereto.

A preferred embodiment of the wall, ceiling or suchlike construction or of a lining for such a wall, ceiling or suchlike construction respectively is characterized in that the holding members comprise projections extending transversely to the stringers, a sound-damping layer being disposed on or against said projections.

In a simple embodiment of the holding members these may comprise lips or other projections which are supported by the end edges of the stringers. If desired the lips of the holding members may include one or more lips by means of which the holding members are clampingly held on the inwardly bent edges of the stringers.

Instead of the one-part holding members it is also possible to apply bipartite or multipartite holding members. In that case said holding members may comprise a plate or strip lying on the inwardly bent end edges of the stringers, a portion of the holding members provided with projections for clampingly securing a lamella being con nected to said plate or strip by one or more screws, bolts or similar objects. The advantage thereof is that, as long as the bolts or screws have not been tightened, the holding members may be displaced. As soon as the holding members have been distributed over the entire length of the stringer, the bolts or screws are tightened so that consequently the holding members cannot be displaced anymore on the stringers.

The holding member strips lying on the inwardly bent end edges of the stringers may comprise first flanges outwardly of the stringers, said first flanges being adapted to co-operate with second flanges of the holding members so as to clampingly hold a sound-absorbing layer.

Another embodiment of the wall or the ceiling or the lining for such a wall or ceiling respectively according to the invention is characterized in that the holding members have a substantially T-shaped profile of which the horizontal leg is claspingly arranged between the legs of the stringers, the vertical leg thereof having projections on which the lamellae, panels or suchlike elements are mounted.

A preferred method according to the invention is characterized in that after the holding members have been secured to the stringers they are so displaced as to be uniformly distributed over the stringers, whereupon the lamellae, panels or suchlike elements are arranged on said holding members.

On account of the fact that the lamellae, panels or similar strip-like elements are mounted after holding members are located in their position, said lamellae, panels or the like cannot be damaged due to a displacement of these lamellae or elements which, as a matter of fact, will be the case if first the lamellae, panels or suchlike elements are mounted on the holding members and subsequently are uniformly displaced along the stringers.

The invention will be further explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing by way of example some embodiments of part of a ceiling.

FIG. 1 shows a bottom view of part of the ceiling.

FIG. 2 shows in perspective part of a stringer provided with a holding member.

FIG. 3 is a side view of said holding member.

FIG. 4 shows a front View of said holding member.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the holding member according to FIGS. 24.

FIG. 6 is a front view of another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a third embodiment.

In FIG. 1 there is shown part of a ceiling which is provided with lamellae 1 of strip-like aluminum, synthetic material or the like between which there are intervening spaces 2. The lamellae 1 comprises bent edges 3 by means of which they are clamped on holding members 4 carried by profiled stringers 5.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-5 the holding member 4 consists of a part punched out of sheet metal and having four lips 6 lying on the inwardly bent end edges 7 of a stringer 5 of channel-like section. Furthermore the holding member comprises four projections 8 on which, as is apparent from FIG. 3, a lamella 1 is clamped with its bent edges 3. In order to clamp the holding members 4 firmly on the bent end edges 7 of the stringers 5 so that they can be shifted only with difiiculty, there can be provided under the lips 6 tongues 9 engaging with the bent end edges. The holding members comprise projections or legs 10 on which sheets of sound damping material (not shown) may be disposed. These sheets may be clamped at their edges by means of small plates 11 with bent edges 12 against the legs 10. The stringer 5 may be secured on or to any fixed support (not shown).

In consequence of the fact that the holding members 4 are clampingly supported by the stringers 5, they may be displaced thereon until the gaps 2 present the desired width.

FIG. 6 shows a bipartite holding member of which the two parts are connected to each other by means of one or more bolts 13. A plate or strip 14 is supported by the inwardly bent end edges 7 of the stringer 5, said plate or strip having one or more threaded holes for the bolt or bolts 13. The plate or strip 14 has two or more bent flanges 15 projecting through apertures 16 in the second part 17 of the holding member. The second part 17 of the holding member comprises two or more flanges 18 supporting sheets or layers 19 of sound-damping material. If the bolt or bolts 13 are tightened, the lips 18 move towards the lips 15 so that the edges of the sheets 19 are firmly clamped. The second portion of the holding member comprises, like the one according to FIGS. 2-5, four projections 8 on which a lamella 1 may be clamped. If the bolt or bolts 13 are tightened the parts 14 and 17 are moved towards each other until the bent end edges of the stringer are so firmly clamped between the two parts that the holding member cannot be shifted anymore. This happens only after the holding member is in its position on the stringer.

FIG. 7 shows a holding member 20 having a T-shaped cross-section, of which the horizontal portion 21 is supported by the inwardly bent end edges of the stringer 5. When the holding member has been put in its position, said holding member may be fixed with the aid of a self-tapping bolt 22 passed through a slot of the bent edge. Also, as is shown in the right hand portion of FIG. 7, the horizontal portion may comprise one or more lips 23 engaging with the bent edge of the stringer 5. The vertical portion of the holding member 20 has two lips 24 on which a lamella 1 is clamped.

It is obvious that the invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but that these may be modified in many ways without departing from the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A ceiling, a lining for a ceiling, wall and the like building structure, comprising in combination lamella elements which constitute the finished outermost surface of said structure, holding members and at least two channelshaped stringers having inwardly bent longitudinal edges, said lamella elements being carried by said stringers by means of said holding members, said holding members being U-shaped and having a web portion and two substantially parallel legs arranged in the longitudinal direction of said stringers, the ends of said legs each being provided with projections, the lamella elements having upturned edges in which the projections of the holding members are clampingly engaged, each leg of said holding members being furthermore provided with at least one lip arranged on said legs and resting on the inwardly bent longitudinal end edges of said stringers, said holding members being adjustably movable along said stringers, characterized in that a tongue is provided under each said lip, said tongue gripping under the inwardly bent longitudinal edges of the stringers, the holding members being clampingly held on the inwardly bent longitudinal edges of the stringers by means of each said lip and tongue.

2. A ceiling, a lining for a ceiling, wall and the like building structure, comprising in combination lamella elements which constitute the finished, outermost surface of said structure, holding members and at least two channelshaped stringers having inwardly bent longitudinal edges, said lamella elements being carried by said stringers by means of said holding members, said holding members being comprised of two portions, one of the portions of each of said holding members being U-shaped and having two substantially parallel legs connected by a web portion lying against the underside of a stringer, said legs being arranged in the longitudinal direction of the stringers, the ends of said legs being provided with projections lying in the same planes as said legs, the lamella elements having upturned edges in which the projections of each leg are clampingly engaged, the other portion of each of said holding members comprising a plate-like member resting on the inwardly bent longitudinal edges of a stringer, said two portions being connected to one another by at least one bolt which extends through said web and said platelike member, tightening of said bolt serving to clamp said bent longitudinal edges between said web and said platelike member.

3. A structure according to claim 2, wherein said U- shaped portion is provided with first flanges extending generally perpendicular to said legs, said other portion of said holding member having second flanges extending parallel to and upwardly spaced from said first flanges, said first and second flanges being adapted to receive a layer of material therebetween, said first and second flanges being movable towards each other through tightening of said bolt so as to clamp said material between said flanges.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,879,778 9/32 Venzie -397 X 1,997,581 4/35 Heeren. 2,340,911 2/44 Urbain 5040O 2,822,584 2/58 Urbain 50400 X FOREIGN PATENTS 654,532 6/51 Great Britain. 734,619 8/55 Great Britain.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Examiner. 

1. A CEILING, A LINING FOR A CEILING, WALL AND THE LIKE BUILDING STRUCTURE, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION LAMELLA ELEMENTS WHICH CONSTITUTE THE FINISHED OUTERMOST SURFACE OF SAID STRUCTURE, HOLDING MEMBERS AND AT LEAST TWO CHANNELSHAPED STRINGERS HAVING INWARDLY BENT LONGITUDINAL EDGES, SAID LAMELLA ELEMENTS BEING CARRIED BY SAID STRINGERS BY MEANS OF SAID HOLDING MEMBERS, SAID HOLDING MEMBERS BEING U-SHAPED AND HAVING A WEB PORTION AND TWO SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL LEGS ARRANGED IN THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OF SAID STRINGERS, THE ENDS OF SAID LEGS EACH BEING PROVIDED WITH PROJECTIONS, THE LAMELLA ELEMENTS HAVING UPTURNED EDGES IN WHICH THE PROJECTIONS OF THE HOLDING MEMBERS ARE CLAMPINGLY ENGAGED, EACH LEG OF SAID HOLDING MEMBERS BEING FURTHERMOST PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE LIP ARRANGED ON SAID LEGS AND RESTING ON THE INWARDLY BENT LONGITUDINAL END EDGES OF SAID STRINGERS, SAID HOLDING MEMBERS BEING ADJUSTABLY MOVABLE ALONG SAID STRINGERS, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT A TONGUE IS PROVIDED UNDER EACH SAID LIP, SAID TONGUE GRIPPING UNDER THE INWARDLY BENT LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF THE STRINGERS, THE HOLDING MEMBERS BEING CLAMPINGLY HELD ON THE INWARDLY BENT LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF THE STRINGERS BY MEANS OF EACH SAID LIP AND TONGUE. 